Communication Officer, NO-A level

UNICEF Office in Romania is hiring a Communication Officer. (Romanian Nationals only).

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

Considering the wide range of stakeholders with whom UNICEF engages (key decisions makers from the Government, Parliament and County level, as well as corporate donors and journalists, local professionals, parents, children and adolescents from urban and rural communities), the complexity of the new Country Programme and the types of communication materials needed for different high level media events and also the growing need of communication products for the on line platforms (i.e. UNICEF in Romania website, regional and global websites, other platforms), as well as the current workload and the expected increase of needs in the future (generated by the new CPD components: health, Public Finance for Children, ODA and horizontal cooperation) and the number of communication professionals within the Communication and Fundraising Section (2½ staff members), a Communication Officer is needed with relevant experience and outstanding storytelling skills both in English and Romanian languages able to explain UNICEF work to different audiences.

The Communication Officer will work under the supervision of the Communication Specialist (Section Chief for Communication and Fundraising Section), in close collaboration Media and Advocacy Officer and Fundraising Officer.

The overall responsibility of the position is to enhance the organization's credibility and brand by developing materials to tell UNICEF story in a tailored manner for a wide range of audiences (from the general public, children and parents to key decision makers, corporate and private individuals donors, journalists etc.) using different platforms, technologies and tools.

Assists in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an advocacy and communication strategy to get children's and women's issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives in the country, and enhance the organization's credibility and brand.

Key Expected Results

• Communication materials: The production of communication products and materials are timely executed and followed up to support country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities, and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.
• Partners and special events: The Country Office’s contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), is maintained and further developed, whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives and who support and are able to actively participate in special events and activities that further the country programme goals.

1) Communication materials

Ensure that the production of communication products and materials is timely executed and followed up to support country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan.

Duties & Tasks

• Implement the tasks in the country communication work plan and strategy as assigned.
• Support the production of creative communication materials (e.g. briefing notes, images, video. Web pages etc.) that meet the country and global standards as set out in the Communication Toolkit for both web-based and traditional media.
• Draft materials with high potential for engagement in online media as well as new technologies.
• Draft communication materials for awareness raising and fundraising activities (edit project proposals from technical into reader friendly language), including innovative reports for various stakeholders such as corporate donors and private individuals (multimedia materials using video, photos, stories, info graphs).

• Follow up on the production of advocacy and communication materials (e.g., films, videos, audio-visuals, etc.), and oversee the qualitative aspects of production, (e.g., quality control, translations, reviews of layout and graphic design etc.) to meet standards as set out in the Communication Toolkit.

• Suggest multiple uses and draft dissemination plans for multimedia communication materials, and other advocacy and communication activities.

• Maintain an up-to-date documentation centre for communication materials including publications, press releases and clippings, photographs, audio-visual materials, web resources etc.

• Recommend established contacts, networks, resources and processes to support communication activities2) 

  2) Monitoring and evaluation

  Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Ensure results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

  Duties & Tasks

  • Monitor and evaluate the appropriate and timely dissemination of advocacy and communication materials to target audiences, and participate in the evaluation of their impact. Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials. Maintain a library of coverage (clippings, coverage etc.)
  • Assist in providing feedback to DOC and RO on the use and appropriateness of global communication materials such as publications, images and multimedia products.
  • Ensure good quality data collection, analysis and evaluation and reporting to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and effective and efficient advocacy.
  • Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences as directed by supervisor.
  • Assist in coordinating appropriate audience research and compiling and analysing relevant data.

    3) Celebrities, partners and special events

    Ensure that the Country Office’s contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), are maintained and further developed, whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives and who support and are able to actively participate in special events and activities that further the country programme goals.

    Duties & Tasks

    • Prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefings and visits of media, Goodwill Ambassadors, donors, National Committee representatives and other special interest groups. The task includes preparing information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits), and assisting in the planning, logistics and administrative arrangements.
    • Help organize and generate public support for special events and activities to promote country programme goals.
    • Maintain and update celebrity and partner contact lists/database for country office.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• 5 years practical professional work experience in journalism in print and broadcast media, or interactive digital media in private sector as well as PR/ Branding/Online agency.

  Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.

  Excellent storytelling skills both in English and Romanian, including for the web, creativity; capacity to translate in reader friendly technical information; Credentials are required (examples of written/video materials and campaigns both in English and Romanian with wide reach and engagement)

• Fluency in English and Romanian. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment 
• Diversity and Inclusion 
• Integrity

Core Competencies

• Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results

Functional Competencies

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Relating and Networking
• Persuading and Influencing 
• Applying Technical Expertise 
• Learning and Researching 
• Planning and Organizing

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.